Rating: 
Summary: Breezy and light, will hold your interest...
Review: I read this through in a few hours and found it entertaining enough but it isn't the type of book that will live with you much afterwards. I'd compare this one to watching an average movie. Well-written enough, with characters that you do care about, an intriguing murder (and murderer, for that matter). And yet it still fell short of what I expected, especially since I like Scottoline's books and always look forward to reading them. Maybe it was just me but somehow I didn't find the plot, action and characterization as compelling as other books she has written. Pigeon Tony, the elderly man who has murdered a long-hated enemy, is a sweet, lovable guy and you want him to get out of the murder rap (even though he DID murder the guy, which is no secret, that's clear from the start of this book) and his friends are also likeable. But this book dragged for me until the actual trial got going. There's a love angle, there's the murder, there is danger lurking around every corner - but all of these plot angles were not written in an unpredictable or intriquing enough manner for my taste. Having said that, please be aware that this book is far above the average for this genre and you might find you like it well enough. Like I said, my opinion is just that - a very personal one.
Rating: 
Summary: MOVE OVER GRISHAM!
Review: Lisa Scottoline just has a talent when it comes to courtroom thrillers that no author, including John Grisham, can surpass. I have read every single novel that Scottoline has written and loved them all. Almost all of her novels include her usual characters, Bennie Rosato, Mary DiNuzio, and Judy Carrier. These three women work for Rosato and Associates, a powerful lawyer firm that has an impeccable record for winning the majority of their cases. Judy Carrier is the main character in "The Vendetta Defense." Her dreadful task is trying to prove that Anthony Lucia, (otherwise known as Pigeon Tony), is innocent of the murder of Angelo Coluzzi. Even though Lucia did execute Coluzzi in cold blood, Carrier somewhat feels that the murder was justifiable because of the fifty year VENDETTA between these two Italian families. Coluzzi had Lucia's lover, son and daugher-in-law killed earlier. Judy Carrier must put up with car bombs, threats, murder attempts, and her boss in order to prove that Pigeon Tony should not be convicted guilty. This is an extremely powerful courtroom drama that will leave readers tear-eyed at the end. Absolutely no one can compete with Lisa Scottoline when it comes to courtroom dramas.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining legal caper
Review: This is more a caper novel that an thriller, but it's great fun. The humor is subtle and light, and the main characters have touching stories to tell. When I first heard the premise for this book, I thought "no way," and in fact, it's not believable. But the book is less a legal drama (where believability does matter, to me) than a light-hearted escapade that manages to tell a meaningful story. The characters come alive on the page.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, but I just didn't like it much
Review: From Scottolines first book through to Mistaken Identity, I really enjoyed her work, it was fast, fresh, suspenseful, and at times laugh out loud funny. Her last book was a dissapointment however, and I am sorry to say that this is an even bigger one. Maybe I am crazy, seeing as how it has been geting glowing reviews here, but I just didn't like it. I thought it was very slow paced, and not very suspenseful at all. I found myself constantly skimming ahead for the "good" parts. The characters were flat and pigeon Tony was annoying with his constant "I no murder him, I kill him!" There were snippets of humor, but nothing compared to some of her previous books. I hate writing such a negative review of an author I like, but that is how I feel. I will still read her next book, and hopefully it will go better.
Rating:
Summary: Carrier-Pigeon
Review: Judy Carrier, lawyer, is set to defend Pigeon Tony a man who has not only been accused of committing a murder but actually admits he did it. For a lawyer an admission of guilt makes for a tough defense; for a story it makes a great plot. I enjoy legal thrillers, as long as the bulk of the story is told outside of the courtroom. To me there is nothing more boring than courtroom action, or inaction as it were, and courtroom dialog. I was not disappointed when I read The Vendetta Defense. The courtroom scenes turned out to be very well written and entertaining. Lisa Scottoline is great at characterization. Pigeon Tony, this guy is a character, reminded me so much of my father that part way through the story I had total empathized with him. The story is great, the writing is exceptional, the characters are wonderful, the dialog is crisp, and should Judy Carrier lose her case at least Lisa Scottoline comes away a big winner with her masterpiece The Vendetta Defense. (Pigeon fanciers take note: was it intentional or ironic that Judy "Carrier" ended up defending "Pigeon" Tony?)
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Legal Thriller!
Review: As a legal thriller novelist myself, I found The Vendetta Defense to be a real page turner! Scottoline is indeed splendid with her characters and plots, leaving the reader wanting for more. I recommend this one to any true fan of the genre. From the author of DAMNING EVIDENCE, WHEN NIGHT FALLS, MURDER IN THE ROSE CITY, DEADLY SECRETS IN THE MOTOR CITY, and the soon to be released legal thriller, POSITIVE I.D.
Rating:
Summary: LEGAL THRILLERS 4 LIFE
Review: Nuthin like a legal thriller. I'm a lawyer and I read this book with my wife nightly. We curl up and kind of lose ourselves in this book. We immerse ourselves from lawyers into a different world where lawyers reign. Legal thrillers. When lawyers get harassed by beasts and stuff. We go, "WHOOOOO HE GOT AWAY GOOD BECAUSE THE LAWYER IS THE PROTAGONIST AND WE WANT HIM TO LIVE BECAUSE HES A LAWYER AND SO ARE WE". Im having a child soon and were putting up posters of the Santa Monica Court House in his room. He will love it. We will read legal thrillers to him...legal thrillers.. he'll tell campfire stories at Legal Camp, and they will be scary because we tell him scary legal thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: Brava, Scottoline!
Review: In her best novel yet, Lisa Scottoline has once again mined her knowledge of all things Italian and the result is pure gold. "The Vendetta Defense" is the story of "Pigeon Tony" Lucia (he breeds and races pigeons), an elderly Italian gentleman who admits that he has killed his enemy, eighty-year-old Angela Coluzzi, in order to settle an ancient vendetta. In a series of flashbacks, we learn the story of Tony Lucia and Angelo Coluzzi. These two men were neighbors in a small town in Italy sixty years ago, and they were rivals for the hand of the beautiful Silvana. Silvana chose Tony Lucia over Angelo Coluzzi, and Angelo, a rabid Fascist and a vicious thug, never forgave this betrayal. Coluzzi spent his life doing everything that he could to destroy the Lucia family. For over half a century, Tony has restrained his anguish, until the fateful day when he and Coluzzi finally have it out. Judy Carrier, a hotshot lawyer in Bennie Rosato's all-female law firm, decides to take on Tony Lucia's seemingly hopeless case. While trying this case, Judy risks her life, weathers exciting and nerve-wracking courtroom battles and finds love with Frank, Tony's gorgeous grandson. Scottoline's novel is at times achingly poignant, especially during the flashbacks, and at other times, it is laugh-out-loud funny. Scottoline is politically incorrect in her depiction of the old Italian men and young Italian mobsters who live in South Philly. "The Vendetta Defense" works as a light and entertaining mystery, and I recommend it unreservedly. Fans of Scottoline will fall in love with Judy and Pigeon Tony, and they will enjoy this wonderful novel immensely.
Rating:
Summary: Scottoline Scores!!!
Review: Since reading "Every Where That Mary Went", I have read each Lisa Scottoline novel as quickly as they have been published. "The Vendetta Defense" certainly deserves five stars! One of the best things about this series is that each book has featured a different character or combination of characters from the law firm of Rosato & Associates. This time it's Judy Carrier's turn to shine. For those who follow the series, Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio both make brief appearances here. But it's Judy who picks up the murder case and consequently falls in love. Her client is an elderly Italian man whose main interest is taking care of and racing his beloved pigeons. Pigeon Tony is a terrific character and Ms. Scottoline does a wonderful job making him feel very "real" to the readers. There really isn't a "mystery" because Pigeon Tony tells Judy immediately that he is responsible for Angelo Coluzzi's death. The interest is how Judy will build a defense and how she will escape the vengeful Coluzzi family. This is Lisa Scottoline at her best!
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Legal Thriller
Review: Another hit for Lisa Scottoline. Contains thrilling courtroom drama, intrigue, compassion, comedy, and pleasant entertainment in a book that you can't put down.
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